In this story · 7 sections
A Palace in France is not a figure of speech. Since 2010 the country has awarded an official distinction, overseen by the tourism agency Atout France, to a handful of hotels that already hold five stars and go further. In 2026 there are 33 of them, and the title is not permanent: in May three hotels – the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, the Mandarin Oriental Paris and the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz – were downgraded to five stars, the first time this had happened. Staying in one is a particular experience, and it helps to know the codes.
Palace hotels (2026, selection)
- Paris
- Four Seasons George V, Hôtel de Crillon, Plaza Athénée, Le Bristol, Le Meurice, Royal Monceau, Shangri-La, The Peninsula, Bvlgari, Cheval Blanc, Fouquet's
- Côte d'Azur
- Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, Château Saint-Martin & Spa, Hôtel Martinez, Cheval Blanc St-Tropez, Airelles Saint-Tropez, La Réserve Ramatuelle
01What makes a Palace
The process has two stages. First an eligibility review, overseen by Atout France, checks mandatory requirements such as a spa, fitness facilities, concierge services and multilingual staff. Then a panel judges the qualities that cannot be counted: location, heritage, character, environmental policy, gastronomy and the quality of service. The distinction was once reviewed every five years; since 2024 it is every three. Six hotels joined the list in 2026: Bvlgari Hotel Paris, Cheval Blanc Paris, Fouquet's Paris, the Four Seasons Resort Megève, the Hôtel Martinez in Cannes and the Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa.
02Arriving
Tell the hotel what you would like before you arrive: the occasion, dietary needs, the time you land, whether you want a table booked for the first evening. The best of these houses are built on anticipation, and they work best with information. On arrival, let the doorman and porters take the luggage; that is their job, and the welcome is part of the stay.
03The concierge
Concierge services are one of the mandatory criteria for the distinction, and they are the most underused resource in any great hotel. A good concierge can secure tables, theatre seats, drivers and guides, and knows which requests are realistic. Ask early, be specific, and say thank you – a small envelope at the end of the stay for a concierge who has worked hard on your behalf is customary but never required.
04Discretion and photographs
Palaces sell privacy as much as comfort. Other guests may be well known; leave them be. Be thoughtful with cameras in public rooms, and never photograph other guests. Some houses are explicit: the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, one of the Riviera's Palaces, has made headlines for banning influencer shoots, as we reported in our news coverage.
05Dress
There is rarely a formal dress code in the hotel itself, but the restaurants and bars expect smart dress in the evening, and swimwear belongs at the pool and the beach. On the Riviera, several towns ban swimwear in the streets, so the same applies outside the gates. When in doubt, ask the concierge.
06Tipping
In France a service charge is included by law in most restaurant bills – the words service compris – so tipping is a gesture, not an obligation. N26's guide to French tipping suggests 5 to 10 per cent in fine dining, a euro or two per bag for porters, and a more generous sum for a concierge who has made reservations for you. In a Palace, discretion applies here too: hand it over quietly, or leave it in an envelope. For the Swedish perspective on tipping abroad, see our article on holiday tipping anxiety.
07The last word
The best guests at a Palace are not the most demanding but the clearest: they say what they want, trust the staff to deliver it, and treat the people who work there with the courtesy the hotel shows them. The rest follows. For the Riviera's Palaces and their surroundings, see verapi.fr; more hotels in our travel section and on metromode.co.
